It came to me that I had not done an adequate job in explaining the importance of a particular process while teaching art this week.
I started teaching art to 4th and 5th graders at Richardson Elementary this past month. Their first project was a fairly easy one that involved understanding the creative use of lines and basic shapes like circles, squares and the like. With no prior art in the school for these little guys, they struggled with the process. So much so that it bothered me that it might be the teacher and not the student.
So, I set out to explain it again. "There is power in the line," I told them. "You hold the key to creative expression in your hand and if you can capture it, it will change your understanding of yourself and the world that surrounds you." As I drew a frantic line on the board, I asked them if they could sense how I was feeling. Hands immediately flew up. "Anger," said one. "Frustration," said another. "Yes." I said. "I have felt frustration in trying to explain to you how you can use a line or several lines to express yourself on paper. And I was able to tell you this without saying a word, without writing a word but by drawing a single line."
Then I drew a wavy line and offered the same question. Now how do I feel I asked them. "Calm," said one. "Relief," said another. "Yes, I said. These lines and their direction and whether you mix them up with shapes to create patterns can give you such satisfaction as you create your own original piece of art I told them.
Creative expression is so hard for many people to grasp especially if they've never experienced it. Even though I had given them plenty of samples and had drawn several patterns and designs on the board, they still struggled with the concept. In fact, it was their frantic lines on paper that clued me in on their own frustrations.
For those that got it...they really got it. And you could see their happiness and self satisfaction in their faces and in their work. And for those that struggled, it was painful and disappointing.
I shared with them that there will be sad days, happy days, tragic days and confusing days. But if they could master the creative use of the line, they could take control of their feelings..... Put them down on paper and the release of emotions and the peace that could come from this could feed their spirit and calm their fears. I shared some of my early fears with them and how I had found my 'neverland' in my own art.
I don't know if they all understood but I did see some happier lines at the end of the day.
If you are looking for a way to express yourself creatively and struggle with basic drawing skills, may I suggest Zen Tangles. Search the internet for samples of Zen Tangles and you'll be amazed at the creativity that can be expressed with the creative use of lines. They're also called Creative Doodles.
I started teaching art to 4th and 5th graders at Richardson Elementary this past month. Their first project was a fairly easy one that involved understanding the creative use of lines and basic shapes like circles, squares and the like. With no prior art in the school for these little guys, they struggled with the process. So much so that it bothered me that it might be the teacher and not the student.
So, I set out to explain it again. "There is power in the line," I told them. "You hold the key to creative expression in your hand and if you can capture it, it will change your understanding of yourself and the world that surrounds you." As I drew a frantic line on the board, I asked them if they could sense how I was feeling. Hands immediately flew up. "Anger," said one. "Frustration," said another. "Yes." I said. "I have felt frustration in trying to explain to you how you can use a line or several lines to express yourself on paper. And I was able to tell you this without saying a word, without writing a word but by drawing a single line."
Then I drew a wavy line and offered the same question. Now how do I feel I asked them. "Calm," said one. "Relief," said another. "Yes, I said. These lines and their direction and whether you mix them up with shapes to create patterns can give you such satisfaction as you create your own original piece of art I told them.
Creative expression is so hard for many people to grasp especially if they've never experienced it. Even though I had given them plenty of samples and had drawn several patterns and designs on the board, they still struggled with the concept. In fact, it was their frantic lines on paper that clued me in on their own frustrations.
For those that got it...they really got it. And you could see their happiness and self satisfaction in their faces and in their work. And for those that struggled, it was painful and disappointing.
I shared with them that there will be sad days, happy days, tragic days and confusing days. But if they could master the creative use of the line, they could take control of their feelings..... Put them down on paper and the release of emotions and the peace that could come from this could feed their spirit and calm their fears. I shared some of my early fears with them and how I had found my 'neverland' in my own art.
I don't know if they all understood but I did see some happier lines at the end of the day.
If you are looking for a way to express yourself creatively and struggle with basic drawing skills, may I suggest Zen Tangles. Search the internet for samples of Zen Tangles and you'll be amazed at the creativity that can be expressed with the creative use of lines. They're also called Creative Doodles.
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